PLAYERS IN BUSINESS TIM BATEMAN Tim playing for the Maori All Blacks v Harlequins in 2016. IM BATEMAN IS IN HIS EIGHTH SUPER RUGBY SEASON AND FIFTH WITH THE TCRUSADERS, HAVING HAD THREE WITH THE HURRICANES, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS YEAR THAT MAKES IT MORE SPECIAL FOR THE 29 YEAR-OLD. The former Maori All Blacks captain is grateful to be back in New Zealand and has started a new business venture with his wife Laura, which was driven by their desire to find a treatment for her multiple sclerosis [MS]. The couple have now opened Cloud 9 Float Club in Christchurch, which houses four flotation pods. Upon returning to New Zealand from Japan, Tim had six months out of the game and has found playing and running a business makes life busy but highly enjoyable. He is excited about being able to do both simultaneously. Maori All Blacks v Tim Bateman takes up the story: “Having time Munster. out of the game has given me more appreciation for actually enjoying the game. Having our challenges with Laura puts everything into perspective. I am mentally refreshed and can’t wait to get stuck into it all. “I knew we were coming back to Christchurch as we needed to be around family support and I was lucky that an opportunity to play again presented itself because you are always worried about what you are going to do after rugby. I was prepared not to play again but rapt to get the slow down her MS. The goal is to halt the MS and so far we chance to throw the boots on.” “Laura had a stem cell transplant. are approaching the two-year mark. The Batemans were not seeking business Obviously it has risks with it, as any She has life-long lasting damage but ideas but as flotation therapy had become new treatment does but for us it was we are hoping that it won’t get any popular among people suffering from a range the best option when we weighed up worse. We only have one regret we of ailments, Laura realised quickly how the everything. Laura’s vision, legs and didn’t get the treatment sooner.” flotation tanks provided her with relief and arms were all getting affected so we Going into business Tim said it was thought there might be an opportunity for them. had to act fast. It was hard not knowing crucial to understand why they were “We were just going to have one at the house what was going to be affected next. It doing it. and then we looked at how it was growing was a horrible way to live. “We asked ourselves why are we overseas. I was a bit more reserved but Laura “They harvested her blood and trying to do this? What is the purpose was adamant and once we went down the track took her stem cells from her bone of the business? Was it helping people? it was a no brainer,” said Tim. marrow. They did a week of high dose “Initially Laura started floating Prior to coming back to New Zealand, Tim, chemotherapy on her to kill her immune for recovery and relaxation after Laura and their two daughters moved back system to get it to zero. She lost all her chemotherapy and then I started doing to Japan from the Hurricanes to the Fukuoka hair. They re-entered the cells and grew it for recovery and visualisation for my region. Tim played for the second time in the her a new immune system. rugby and we found it improved our land of the rising sun so Laura could receive “She was in isolation for a month to quality of life. cutting edge and high risk treatment in a bid to slowly grow her immune system back. “Now we are helping other 80 | NZ RUGBY WORLD | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017 “Laura had a stem cell transplant. Obviously Tim and Laura it has risks with it, as any new treatment with a float tank. does but for us it was the best option when we weighed up everything.” TIM BATEMAN people with stress, anxiety, “Most customers float depression, recovery. It regularly [weekly/fortnightly/ provides a space for people monthly]. Some wait until who storm through life to take they are stressed, tired or stock of things. Each person sore, some just want to try uses it for different reasons something ‘out of this world’ even university students use it and others wait to receive gift to help retain information. vouchers on special occasions. “We describe it as ‘floats It is an ideal gift for people that are the best version of you’. are hard to buy for.” It is not a magic tool but it is Floating has been around for A float tank set up. an environment that people 40 years and Tim describes it enjoy and respond to. We as more like floating in outer don’t make any promises as space than being enclosed the experience is different for in anything. Scientists were everyone. We have found that initially fascinated by what it takes people a few floats happens to the brain when to get in the swing of it. We there is no stimulation i.e. encourage people to do the no gravity, light or input. intro three pack. That gives They were investigating what them a good opportunity to the brain does while in that gain a true understanding and environment and then it enjoyment of the experience. evolved from there. “People usually are worried Tim has found there facebook.com/NZRPA about claustrophobia. They are plenty of transferable think of sunbeds but our relaxation skills that he can flotation pods were designed use for rugby. “I am less by a basketball player so they anxious going into games.” are big with a high roof so He has even got teammates people are surprised how big such as Andy Ellis using it they are. People are worried and has a few of this year’s they’ll get bored but the time teammates interested. goes so fast. We have had to It has also been used by increase the timing options US and Australian Olympic @nzrpa due to client requests. teams and NBA’s Steph Curry, Cloud 9 Float Club “We underestimated the The Dallas Cowboys and reception lounge. demand. We were hoping for Philadelphia Eagles, Daniel six people a day but we were Craig 007 Actor and Richard nzrugbyplayersassoc at near capacity of 126 floats Feynman [Nobel Prize Winning in our first week. We have four Physicist]. pods that all have their own The Batemans are enjoying shower and toilet. the trials of running a “We encourage people business. to use the toilet and have “I enjoyed the challenges a shower first so they get of problem solving. When you the best out of their float are the boss you have to come and are totally relaxed and up with the solutions and it comfortable. The music plays is a bit of trial and error, but and clients choose their own I found that really enjoyable. Laura has been Laura Bateman hospitalised many genre of music which ranges We used a business mentor and daughters. times due to her MS. from waves to mediation. The Karl Waretini who has been water is fully filtered three and really awesome. He has been a a half times between each massive part of helping us set For more information contact: float. The water in the float it up properly. He uses rugby CLOUD 9 FLOAT CLUB tank is incredibly buoyant with analogies so it makes it easy Phone: 03 341 8331 approximately 450kg of Epsom for me to understand. There 1/65 Mandeville Street, Riccarton, Christchurch Salt in each pod. It is relaxing are so many transferrable Open: 7 Days 10am-10pm so it’s entirely possible that you skills, communication, to make Email: [email protected] could fall asleep. People say the team play well everyone www.cloud9floatclub.co.nz they find it mentally cleansing. has to do their part.” FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017 | NZ RUGBY WORLD | 81 NEW ZEALAND RUGBY PLAYERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL PLAYER AWARDS RESULTS AS VOTED FOR BY THE PLAYERS Congratulations to the 2016 winners and all nominees: 2016 PLAYERS’ PLAYER 2016 PLAYERS’ PLAYER 2016 PLAYERS’ PROVINCIAL OF THE YEAR: WOMEN OF THE YEAR: MEN UNION PLAYER OF THE YEAR Nominees: Nominees: Nominees: Kendra Cocksedge Beauden Barrett Augustine Pulu Fiao’o Fa’amausili Dane Coles Damian McKenzie Aroha Savage Jerome Kaino Jordan Taufua Selica Winiata Brodie Retallick Luke Whitelock Ben Smith WINNER: Selica Winiata WINNER: Beauden Barrett WINNER: Augustine Pulu 2016 PLAYERS’ PLAYER 2016 PLAYERS’ PLAYER 2016 PLAYERS’ YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR SEVENS WOMEN SEVENS MEN Nominees: Nominees: Nominees: Jordie Barrett Huriana Manuel Kurt Baker Anton Lienert-Brown Ruby Tui Sam Dickson Bryn Gatland Tyla Nathan-Wong Tim Mikkelson Rieko Ioane Portia Woodman Regan Ware WINNER: Portia Woodman WINNER: Kurt Baker WINNER: Anton Lienert-Brown 82 | NZ RUGBY WORLD | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017 GUS COLLINS NZRPA KIRK AWARD Justin holding the 2005 NPC trophy. AST YEAR, FORMER special tribute to my wife and LONG-SERVING NZRPA my family for their ongoing LBOARD MEMBER support.” JUSTIN [GUS] COLLINS WAS The Northlander epitomises PRESENTED WITH THE NEW what the Players’ Association ZEALAND RUGBY PLAYERS’ believes in and strives for. He ASSOCIATION KIRK MEDAL is uniting, inspiring and works AT THE ASB RUGBY AWARDS hard to create environments HELD IN AUCKLAND ON 15 that get the best out of DECEMBER 2016.